Broadclyst residents left furious after secret BNP rally is held in village hall
RESIDENTS are fuming after finding out the British National
Party held a secret political rally at their village hall.
The meeting, at Broadclyst Victory Hall, near Exeter, was
attended by around 100 members as well as party leader Nick
Griffin.
It was partly organised by a local youth group leader as the
right-wing party targets Devon in a bid to drum up support.
The BNP's policies include calling a halt to all
immigration, deporting all those who commit crimes and whose
original nationality is not British, withdrawing from the
European Union, restoring corporal punishment and abolishing
anti-discrimination laws.
Mr Griffin once described the Holocaust as "a mixture of
Allied wartime propaganda, extremely profitable lies and
latter-day witch-hysteria".
A number of people living in Broadclyst are outraged the
covert meeting took place in their village.
Resident Brian Kirby said: "I'm totally shocked. I don't
like the thought of it at all — I'm totally opposed to
them.
"I hadn't heard anything about it but if I heard it was
happening again I would object. I'm not happy about it at
all."
Another villager, who did not want to be named, said: "I'm
against it, I don't want them having meetings here. I don't
agree with them and I think they're no good to mankind."
Another anonymous resident said: "I don't like thinking
they're in the village. I don't like their policies and I'd
rather they didn't hold these rallies at all. A party that
keeps things secret is doomed from the beginning."
Parish councillor and BNP member Colin Fribbens, who runs
the village's youth group, helped organise the event, which
took place last month.
He said: "We're a political, common-sense party. We're not
racists or fascists. People seem to be coming across to us in
large numbers. They're generally fed up with Labour, the
Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives and they're looking for
something new.
"The meeting was well attended by people from Broadclyst,
Exeter, East Devon and the surrounding area. It was great and
we made four new members that evening.
"There will be lots of meetings in the future around here.
We're growing all the time here, which is great. You're going
to see more about us."
The party's deputy leader, Simon Darby, said: "We have to
keep meetings secret otherwise people turn up and cause trouble
and we get the blame.
"We have to keep it very quiet and generally members only.
We'd love to have open meetings but you can guarantee lefties
would turn up and spoil it for everybody.
"People want to hear Nick speak, he's an interesting chap.
He was talking about peak oil, the threat of fundamentalism and
various other things. All the Westcountry meetings were very
positive.
"Support is very good in Devon. A lot of people are becoming
interested in the BNP now there are migrant workers and a
shortage of houses. Also, people are moving from London and the
Midlands into the Westcountry and are very familiar with what's
happening. Devon's an area that's looking interesting for
us."
Roy Elkins, chairman of Broadclyst Victory Hall, admitted he
had received a complaint about the meeting.
He said: "It didn't affect anybody whatsoever as far as I'm
concerned. If I thought for a moment it would, then I wouldn't
have accepted the booking.
"It was simply a hire. I don't look at it politically. I
believe in freedom of speech."
14 Comments
View all
by roddy, exeter
Monday, August 18 2008, 11:23AM
“So has the party line changed following this discussion?
As quoted in the article:
"The party's deputy leader, Simon Darby, said: "We have to keep meetings secret otherwise people turn up and cause trouble and we get the blame.
We have to keep it very quiet and generally members only. We'd love to have open meetings but you can guarantee lefties would turn up and spoil it for everybody.""
Whilst Lawence reports (below) ¿the BNP do not hold secret meetings¿.
I will take Lawence's advice regarding contacting the party for information on their meetings and I hope many others do likewise, it would be very interesting for an open discussion to happen at one of these meetings, one that takes account of the opinions of many British Workers, all of which this party claims to represent.”
by Lawrence West, Torbay
Friday, August 15 2008, 5:06PM
“Freedom of speech is a fundamental part of democracy
without it you have a dictatorship, the BNP do not hold secret meetings, contact your local branch and you would be welcome to come along.”
by Peter Mullins, Liskeard, Cornwall
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 9:34PM
“Regarding the comment originating from Roddy of Exeter.
I have copied it here with a minor but but fundamental adjustment to his argument. As, with the complete implosion of U.K.I.P. the British National Party is the ONLY Party that wish for the United Kingdom to re-negotiate the treasonous Treaty of Lisbon and to withdraw from the creeping federalisation of Europe, they remain our collective last best chance to get rid of a REAL undemocratic body of trough hogs!
"Just thought your illusion of this meeting being democratic should be addressed.
There is NOTHING democratic about a meeting open only to a selected group through invite.
The only way to make these events democratic is to allow the attendance of all people that wished to attend and add to the discussions held.
This meeting was elitist, dictatorial and oppressive and until the unelected, unaccountable European Council of Minisers can opperate in an open and honest way, then they and their members will be considered in such a manner. "”
by Peter Mullins, Liskeard, Cornwall
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 9:15PM
“Quote..."Another anonymous resident said: "I don't like thinking they're in the village. I don't like their policies and I'd rather they didn't hold these rallies at all. A party that keeps things secret is doomed from the beginning." Unquote...
The above, taken from the article, seems to me to be somewhat of an oxymoron in as much as the "Resident" wishes to keep their identity a secret...weird!”
by Jeff, Exeter
Wednesday, August 13 2008, 6:02PM
“May I just say thankyou to the Express and Echo for their front page spread re the BNP meeting at Broadclyst. There is no such thing as bad publicity . What was a secret meeting has now highlighted the party and their leader Nick Griffin. The hall was an excellent venue and I must say the local pub, The Red Lion was very hospitable when we bought food and drinks. I bet they wouldn't have turned us away even if they had known who we were..One local chap asked me what we were doing there that evening and we just said we were attending a Patriot meeting and he said "well done "...I must just say that the local youths were very badly behaved while we were having that quiet drink...very drunk and swearing loudly...tut tut.. If anyone wants the truth about the Party and not comments made from ignorance and mis information just visit the web site.. They are not racist or right wing...just Pro British. Just wanting the country back to its rightful owners...”